Column form clamp



Oct. 19, 1954 faQ/ L.. L. MCNAIR COLUMN FORM CLAMP Filed Feb. 21, 1952 Y f \V/. A E

*if* I; A

Loro L MMM/R INVENTOR.

A TT ORNE Y Patented Oct. 19, 19.54

greet UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE COLUMN FORM CLAMP Lloyd L. McNair, Cedar Hill, Tex.

Application February 21, 1952, Serial No. 272,739

(Cl. 14A-291) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to concrete forms and it has particular reference to improved equipment for binding concrete forms against expansion under internal pressure imposed by the concrete on the form.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved means to supplant bulky and unwieldy form binders and to reduce hazards at tending the installation of such binders, as well as to reduce the time consumed and the labor expended in such installations. The invention is primarily designed to reinforce the forms for concrete columns and is comprised of four substantially L-shaped corner members adapted for temporary installation on a mounting frame and which serve as bearings for a flexible tensioning or binding element, such as a chain or Wire cable the latter functioning to reinforce the walls of the form against outward pressure of the concrete by exerting counter-pressure through bridges situated at opposite extremities of each of the corner members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a concrete form binder in which one of the four corner members is equipped with a stationary and a movable anchorage member for the ends of the flexible binding element, the movable anchorage member being effective to increase and decrease tension in the flexible member through the medium of a threaded bolt actuated by a socket wrench and by virtue of the degree of resiliency of the corner members at their ends nearest to the midsections of the sides of the form. The bridges on the corner members are made to transmit pressure imposed by the flexible member against the walls of the form at the points most vulnerable to outward pressure of concrete within the form.

Broadly, it is the purpose of the invention to reduce the time consumed in applying binders to concrete column forms and to minimize hazards by providing a binder in which the major work in applying the binder may be accomplished by a single worker on deck. Moreover, the improved binder has no protrusions likely to interfere with the movement of workmen or equipment on the deck. The invention further seeks to provide a concrete form binder having all of the prerequisites of conventional binding equipment but has the advantage of being more easily installed on a form, in being lighter without sacrificing strength and less bulky so that it will occupy a comparatively small amount of space during transportation of the equipment from one job to another, thus affording a saving in transportation costs.

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds, taken in connection Vwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a concrete column form on which is shown one of the several binders usually employed on the form and embodying the element of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the form in transverse section. l

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the principal corner member carrying the anchoring and ten sioning means for the flexible binding element` Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View of a form showing one of the auxiliary corner members.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showingthe principal corner member, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line --G of Figure 4.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference numeral Il] denotes generally the form structure for a concrete column, the same consisting of vertical planks of shiplap. Arranged in vertically spaced relationship about the form Il) is a series of frames li of Wood strips. This frame serves as a mount ing for the elements of the invention.

The invention consists of three minor corner members such as shown in detail in Figure 4. These corner members are substantially z -shaped so that they will conform to the corners of the mounting frame Il. Each of the three corner members is also substantially L-shaped in trans verse section to denne a bed plate i2 and a iiange I3, the latter terminating short of each end of the bed plate l2 to lend a degree of resiliency to the latter adjacent a bridge ld, which is formed by bending the extremities of the ed plate l2 upon itself to provide .a protuberance perpendicular to the side of the mounting frame i l. purpose of these bridges it will be explained presently.

One of the four corner members as shown in detail in Figures 3 and 5 may be referred to the major corner member. This corner member is identical in construction to the minor corner members and the bed plate I5 of each leg of the major corner member bears against the walls of the mounting frame Il and upon the flange l5 of one leg of the major corner member is welded or otherwise secured a plate il disposed at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of the bed plate I5 and is apertured at one end to receive a bolt I8. The bolt I8 is threaded onto one end of a substantially rectangular frame ls The.

and connected to the frame I9 at its opposite end is a swivel 20 having a loop 2| to which is anchored the end 22 of the flexible binding element or wire cable 21. The end of the cable is secured by a clamp 25. The free end of each leg of the major corner member is bent upon itself to form an upstanding bridge 25 onto which the flexible element 21 is elevated to impose tension thereon in a mnner similar tb the function of the bridges I4 of the minor corner members and on which the flexible member 21 rests 'when surrounding the column form.

The opposite end of the iiexible member or cable 21 is stationarily anchored through the medium of a cleat 28 Welded or otherwise st'ationarily secured to the flange I6 'of the corpanion leg or bed plate I5 of the major corner member. The end 29 of the flexible element 21, after two or three turns about the cleat 28,y extends' between the stationary and movable jaws :is and 3| respectively efja eier-rip 32 and is anchored by a bolt 33 having a head 3H. The flexible member 'then `ei'itentfls around the form under studs 35 lon the minor corher members, its opposite end `22 engaging the ring' 721 on the adjustable anchoring member or frame "I9, as previously explained.

A suitable tool, such as a socket wrench, may be applied to the bolt head 34 to secure the clamp `32 as well a's to the h'ead of bolt I8 to effect longitudinal displacementlof the frame yI9 to tighten the exible member 21, the flexible member Ai-'n the meantime having bfefen elevated onto the several bridges Ill 'and 26 'formed 'on the four corner members, such tension having the effect `2' to 'exert a force c o'n'tr to the bressuire of the concrete within the form It, thus to ob'vi'ate possible 'distortion of the form.

In installing the -form binder on t-he I`0, the `frames II are rst axed 'to the ferm 3H) in vertically spaced relationship. The mihor 'corner members are then applied to 'the frame fII Eby nails to temporarily hold the corner members againstdisplacenent `in relation to frame "Il. The major cornfe'r member is then applied to the 'frame I 'I and is held a'gainst displacement by driving a nail or pin *through the aperture "356 formed in each le'g I5 o" f th member Iat its approximate midsection. The end of the 'iexlibl'e element v21 is `then Asecured -by passing the -saihe around the clea'tj28 `and the clamp 132 andthe bolt lI8 is rotated lti) draw the ifh F9 teu/ard the stationary plate II tofimpo'se tension fon 'the "flexible element 21 'which -has elevated foht'o the several bridges I4 `vand 26 as previously explained.

One of the objectionable :characteristis E'of 'other types `of form binders that lextei-fnal f'pressre von thefor'm is provided 'by driving wedges between parts of the "binder fand exterior faces fof the form. Hammer blows required to vdrive lthe wedges produce vibration within the 4f oi-'rrr iising the 'wet concrete "to settle and further distort `the form. The present invention fbviates the 'hecess'ity fr 'vibrating 'a `form in any manner, thus preludin'g the fsett'lifl'g 'o'f the C'Olilet IWithin the form.

It is further evident that Without assistance a single workman can readily install all form binders on the column forms with little likelihood of injury to himself since all of the Work of tensioning the binder is accomplished through the major corner members and Within the confines of the deck on which he is Working.

It will be apparent that various changes and modifications vcan be made in the described and illustrated embodiments of the invention without departing from the invention and it is intended, therefore, in the appended claims to 'cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for binding a form in the erection of concrete columns, a mounting frame embracing said form, a substantially L-shaped corner member detachably mounted on each corner of said iraiiie 'whose legs extend toward 'the midsection of each side of 'said frame, a iexible bindiihg h'i'einier embracing Said frame having Olie end anchored to one leg of one of sai-u comer members and its opposite end adjustably se cured to the opposite leg of the Vsaine corner member, 'a transverse bridge formed on the ehu 'of veach leg of each 'corner member perpendicufiar to said frame, said bridges lex'ten'iing out Wardly beyond the point 'of anchorage of said flexible binding member and supporting the saine under -tension to exert an inward force against 'each side of said fram-e.

2. In a device for clamping concrete forms, a frame surrounding said form, 'a substantially fshaped corner member detaehabl'y 'secured to each corner of said frame, ysaid corner members each having their legs extending 'in parallelism vwith the sides vvof said frame tow-ard the section th'ereof, a transverse bridge carried Yby the end of each leg o' Ieach -of said 'corner inembers and disposed perpendicular to said frame sides, a fi'exible 'member embracing said trame, having its `ends 'connecte/d to opposite legs 'of 'one 'of said corner members in 'closer 'relation t'o said 'frame Athan the outer l'ends "of I'sai'd bridges, said 'fe'xible member being 'supported on "the brid'ges of `said corner members about said frame 'arid means at one of the connected ends of said flex ible member 'for bringing -s'a'id iiexible 'member under tension to exert an inward force on sai-d frame through said bridges. 

